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Preview: Kotoko and Hearts face-off
All roads will lead to the Baba Yara Sports Stadium when Asante Kootoko host Accra Hearts of Oak in the much talked about fixture of the second round on Sunday.
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Team news and match facts
The two giants enter this big game with Hearts of Oak, having beaten Berekum Chelsea in Accra in the midweek, while Kotoko, suffered a painful and humiliating 4-1 defeat against Dwarfs who were at the time lying in the drop zone.
Hearts are occupying the top of the league ladder in their bid to win their first league title since, 2008-09, whereas Asante Kotoko are at 3 position.
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But, matches between these sides don’t always follow form guide and what happens in the first round a case study for us all. Hearts prior to that game had earned a famous victory at Obuasi against AshGold to register their first win away against the Miners, since 2007, while Kotoko had suffered a defeat in the hands of New Edubiase in Kumasi, but the Porcupine Warriors defied all expectations to win that game.
Mind you, the Phobians believe that Kotoko have turned Accra into their home, since they have over the years had good results there, whereas they (Hearts of Oak) have also made Kumasi a fortress, hence, there is this thinking that after Kotoko edged them in Accra, the three points involved in the return tie will head to Accra.
Technically, Michael Osei seems to losing his magic touch that made him propel the Porcupine Warriors from the bottom of the league to 2 place, after match day 19, having won just a game in the last 5 matches in charge in the second round, (L1, D3), whereas Sergio Traguil is yet to lose a game in the league: He has guided Hearts of Oak to 3 wins and 2 draws and has already won the hearts of the Phobians, after they jumped to the summit of the league table.
Hearts of Oak are confused on the choice of goalkeeper for the game, following the experienced Soulama Abdoulaye’s howler that gifted Kotoko a win in the first round. They are contemplating on keeping faith in the Burkinabe, stop-shopper, who has kept post in their past two league games or settle on one of the youngsters, who don’t have the temperament for big games?
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The fear with Soulama Abdoulaye is that, his former club, Asante Kotoko might have an antidote for him and they believe that compelled him to commit that unpardonable blunder.
Hearts of Oak have an incredible away form. They are the only side without a defeat on the road, having won 5 and drawn 6 in 11 games, whereas the hosts, Asante Kotoko have won 5, lost 1 and drawn 3 home league games.
All eye balls will be on the two Dauda’s who are the top scorers of their respective clubs: Dauda Mohammed is on 7 goals for the Porcupine Warriors, while Cosmos Dauda has scored 8 league goals for the Phobians.
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However, Dauda Mohammed is yet to increase his goal tally in the second round, but Cosmos Dauda scored the lone goal in Hearts of Oak’s 1-0 win against Dwarfs last two weeks and earlier fetched his side the match winner against Dreams FC.
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Both players missed the midweek games: Dauda Mohammed was in the camp of the Black Satellites who failed to qualify for the African Youth Championship, whereas, Cosmos Dauda had a knock, but both players are likely to start.
The midfielders of Hearts of Oak would give the defenders and the midfielders of Kotoko a torrid time, due to their skilful nature: The likes of Isaac Mensah, Samudeen Ibrahim and Patrick Razak have been a torn in the flesh of opposing sides.
However, Kotoko too have equally good midfielders in Bennett Ofori, Frank Sarfo Gyamfi, Stephen Nyarko, Theophilus Nyame and Kwadwo Poku to curtail the treat from the Phobians, but they need to wake up from their slumber in recent matches.
Robin Gnagne’s combination with Inusah has been a solid one, whereas, Ahmed Adams, who has been a pillar in Kotoko defence is yet to get a perfect pair in central defence.
Amos Frimpong, the skipper of Kotoko, who started from the bench in their 4-1 mauling by Dwarfs has been Kotoko’s best player in the second half. He has scored three goals for his side, as a defender.
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Head to head
Asante Kotoko have played Hearts of Oak on 103 occasions in the league, since 1958. Hearts of Oak are leading the pack with 44 victories, whereas Kotoko have won 43 games and 36 of them have ended in draws.
At Kotoko home grounds (Kumasi and two adopted venues-Nkawkaw and Cape Coast)
The Porcupine Warriors have hosted the Phobians on 49 occasions.
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However, two of the clashes happened outside Kumasi: In 1961 Asante Kotoko were suspended from playing at the Kumasi Sports Stadium, so their encounter against Hearts took place at Nkawkaw.
That game ended in a one all draw and also in the 2006/07 season due to the renovation of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kotoko hosted Hearts of Oak in Cape Coast, but lost 0-1.
Kotoko vs Hearts in Kumasi
To look at encounters between Hearts and Kotoko in Kumasi, there is the need to take out the two matches that took place at Nkawkaw and in Cape Coast from the 49 games to get 47 games.
Asante Kotoko in games against Hearts of Oak in Kumasi are trailing their arch-rivals.
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Kotoko have won 17, while Hearts of Oak have won 18 games and 13 games have ended in draws.
Premier League ties between Kotoko and Hearts
The dominance of Hearts of Oak in this fixture became glaring with the inception of the Ghana Premier League in the 1993-94 season. The Phobians have won 15, while Kotoko have won 10 of the 42 engagement since that time and 17 have ended in draws
Matches at Kotoko's home grounds in the Premier League
Kotoko have celebrated 5 victories against Hearts of Oak, while playing at home in the Ghana Premier League, since the 1993-94 season. Hearts of Oak have enjoyed the lions’ share of their engagements, having won 7, whereas 8 games ended without a winner.
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Last ten meetings between Kotoko and Hearts in Kumasi or the 2006 adopted home grounds, Cape Coast
Kotoko have won just two, while Hearts of Oak have won 5, with 3 games ending in draws
2005 Asante Kotoko 3-1 Hearts of Oak
2006/07 Asante Kotoko 0-1 Hearts of Oak
2007/08 Asante Kotoko 3-3 Hearts of Oak
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2008/09 Asante Kotoko 1-2 Hearts of Oak
2009/10 Asante Kotoko 0-1 Hearts of Oak
2010/11 Asante Kotoko 0-1 Hearts of Oak
2011/12 Asante Kotoko 2-1 Hearts of Oak
2012/13 Asante Kotoko 0-0 Hearts of Oak
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2013/14 Asante Kotoko 0-0 Hearts of Oak
2014-15 Asante Kotoko 0-1 Hearts of Oak
Last ten clashes between Kotoko and Hearts at all venues in league duels.
Asante Kotoko have won 5 of their last 10 league clashes against Hearts of Oak. The Phobians have won just a game, while 4 games ended in draws
2010/11 Hearts of Oak 0-2 Asante Kotoko
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2011/12 Hearts of Oak 0-0 Asante Kotoko
Kotoko 2-1 Hearts of Oak
2012/13 Asante Kotoko 0-0 Hearts of Oak
Hearts of Oak 1-1 Asante Kotoko
2013/14 Hearts of Oak 0-1 Kotoko
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Asante Kotoko 0-0 Hearts of Oak
2014-15 Asante Kotoko 0-1 Hearts of Oak
Hearts of Oak 1-2 Asante Kotoko
2015-16 Hearts of Oak 0-1 Asante Kotoko
July clashes between Kotoko and Hearts
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It is even between these two sides in the month of July. Asante Kotoko have won two (2), lost two (2) and drawn one (1) against Hearts of Oak.
The clashes between Kotoko and Hearts of Oak which date back to 1958, waited for twenty-one (21) years before it produced a July encounter.
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